BEAUMONT, Texas — It’s a race between the man who holds the gavel and the political newcomer just hoping for a seat in the Texas House chamber.
Texas House District 21 incumbent Dade Phelan and candidate David Covey both say they can advocate best for Southeast Texas over the next two years.
We asked both candidates about the issues, starting with money.
Brenda Matute: Texas has the 13th highest tax rate in the country, you would want to add to that?
"I'm not advocating for a consumption tax, I'm advocating to eliminate property taxes," Covey said. “We would move that from the few people who own property and spread that out to a larger group of the population and that would make everyone pay less."
House Speaker Phelan, who's been representing the 409 for the last 10 years in Austin calls Covey's plan a 'far reach' that could leave voters with empty wallets.
"We can't just rely on a consumption tax when we have no income tax and no property tax,” Phelan said. “Whether its fire, EMS, public education, drainage, you name it, would only be funded by a consumption tax which would be a sales tax, which means you would go from an 8.25% tax to 27% sales tax."
Covey is a Mauriceville native and when it comes to education he's got a clear platform.
"I think we need to have school choice and vouchers and the ability for parents to choose what's best for their children," Covey said.
But after advocating for eliminating property taxes Covey offered no clear vision on which taxes would then fund public education.
“No I can't, I can't give you the rate," Covey responded.
It takes both sides of the aisle to pass laws in Austin. During this time of political strife and division both House District 21 contenders are relying on differing approaches to serve Southeast Texas.
Matute: At the end of the day, there are Democrats in the legislature, how would you work with them if you were elected?
“They can work with us,” Covey said. “Because we're gonna do what's best for the state and if they wanna work with us then they can, but otherwise they're gonna have to do what they need to do."
"I will never apologize for working with anyone who wants to work with me,” Phelan said. “That tradition of working with every member of the legislature goes back to Sam Houston."
In the nearly two centuries since Texas established its first legislature Phelan touts being the only House Speaker from the Golden Triangle.
“We've never had a speaker in 176 years from Southeast Texas,” Phelan said. “We have record funding for our ports, higher education, transportation, drainage and that's just the local stuff."
12News offered to host a live debate between both candidates ahead of Election Day.
"He's dodging us,” Covey said after telling 12News he would participate in a debate. “And then he tried to have a rigged debate with a different station, with a moderator who is obviously of a liberal bent.”
After agreeing to the debate at a recent campaign event Covey's campaign never responded to 12News' requests to set up the debate.
Only Phelan's campaign responded to 12News’ formal invitation for a debate.
“He refuses to debate me on a stage,” Phelan said. “I would be willing to debate this man on channel 12, for an hour. Two hours. You name it, I'll debate him on the corner of this street."
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